Mounting for operating parts of player pianos



Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,665

E. S- WEROLIN MOUNTING FOR OPERATING PARTS OF PLAYER PIANOS.

FILED Nov. L7 1920 Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN S. WEROLIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PIANO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MOUNTING FOR OPERATING PARTS OF PLAYER PIANOS.

Application filed November 17, 1920. Serial No. 424,579.

T 0 ca 10 ham it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN S. lVnnomN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofthe city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Mountings for Operating Parts of Player Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the mounting of a power plant in a player piano.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a suitable mounting for a pneumatic exhaust pump and its driving motor in a piano so'that under normal operation the parts will be enclosed within the frame of the piano and when inspection or alteration of these parts is desired the pump and motor may be moved to positions which permit ready access thereto. Other objects will be apparent from the following description.

A selected embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view of the under side of a grand piano showing a motor and a pneumatic exhaust pump in position;

Figure 2 is a view of the pump swung clear of the piano frame; and

Figure 3 is a view of the motor swung to a position below the piano.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the mounting of a power plant for an automatic instrument is shown as applied to a grand piano, a portion only of the frame of the piano being illustrated, namely, the rast 1 and a central brace 2. The power plant preferably consists of a motor 3 and a pneumatic exhaust pump 4 mounted upon these members and within the piano frame so that they are not visible to the ordinary observer. The motor is preferably mounted to slide upon a yoke 5 and transmits power to the pump by means of a belt 6 operating around two pulleys 7 and 8 which are respectively mounted on the motor shaft and the pump shaft. The belt is preferably maintained in a taut condition by moving the motor on the arms of the yoke, and a suitable means for accomplishing this purpose is illustrated in the form of a leaf'spring 9, pivoted on the central brace 2 at 10. The effective strength of this spring is varied by adjusting a screw 12 which cooperates with an extending end 11 of the spring. A pad 13 of non-metallic vibration-absorbing material, such as felt, is preferably introduced between the end of the spring and the motor frame.

In order to readily inspect and make alterations of the motor it is desirable to mount the-motor in the piano frame so that it may be moved into a position permitting easy accessibility. Such a manner of mounting is especially desirable as pianos when requiring repair are generally in the home and far from a piano repair shop. By so mounting the motor, the pneumatic pump and other parts of the operating mechanisms, they are readily moved to a position giving easy accessibility, while still being attached to the piano frame, thereby making it possible for one person to readily re-' pair the operating parts without requiring the services of an assistant or heavy appa ratus by which to fully move the parts from the piano. Small repairs and necessary oiling of the operating parts are readily accomplished by one man when the operating apparatus of the piano is capable of having a normal operating position within the piano frame and of having another position for repairing while being supported by the piano frame.

In mounting the motor in a grand piano with this purpose in view, the yoke 5 carrying the motor is preferably pivotally mount ed in eyelets 14 and 15 so the motor may be moved to a position which readily permits it to be oiled or repaired' In this instance the motor is swung down to a position substantially clear of the piano frame, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Preferably collars 16 are adjusted on the yoke arms so that the movement of the motor on the yoke is limited. The ends of the yoke are preferably held in an arm 17 which, under normal conditions, is held in contact with a portion of the rest 5 the arm 17 are surrounded by suitable vibration-absorbing material 20, such as felt for example, thus preventing any vibrations of the motor from reaching the piano frame.

The pneumatic exhaust pump which may be of any suitable construction, such as that shown in Letters Patent #1,343,004, is also mounted in the piano in a manner to permit a cover 21 to be removed, thereby giving easy access to the interior of the pump. The.

cover is illustrated in Fig. 1 in dotted lines. Any desired pivot means may be employed for mounting the pump, and a suitable means is here illustrated in the form of extending arms 22 rotating in clamps 23. The swinging end of the pump is provided wit-h suitable means for being held to the frame of the piano, and preferably supports 24 attached to the pump are received by latches 25 slidable on the rast 1 and central brace 2. These latches are maintained in normal holding position by means of screws 26. The pivot points and the supports for the pump are also provided with suitable vibration-absorbing material.

By employing this type of mounting for the motor and the pneumatic exhaust pump and other operating parts for an automatic player piano, the parts or the containers therefor may be positioned within the piano frame so that they are hidden from view and may be readily movedto a position to permit quick and easy inspection and repair.

This invention may be variously embodied and the particular form of the invention shown may be varied. within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In an automatic playerpiano the combination with a pump of an electric motor, driving connections between the pump and motor, a mounting for said motor comprising a frame pivoted to the piano frame and movable alternatively to a normal position within the piano frame and to a position without the piano frame to support the motor in accessible position for inspection and repair.

2. In an automatic player piano the combinatlon with a pump, an electric motor, and a belt connecting the same, of a pivoted frame having ways on which said motor is V I mounted to move toward and from the pump to malntaln the belt in taut condition, said frame bemg movable to position the motor alternatively in operative position or in ex posed position for inspection and. repair.

In a player grand piano the combination with a pump of an electric motor operatlvely connected thereto, a frame Carrying said motor pivotally mounted on the piano frame and movable alternatively to a position within the piano body to support the motor in operative position or to a position beneath the piano body to hold the motor in exposed position for inspection and repair, and means for retaining said frame. in its operative position within the piano body.

4. In an automatic player grand piano the combination with a pneumatic exhaust pump and an electric motor operatively connected thereto, of a pivoted frame on which the pump is mounted, said frame being movable downwardly to bring the pump to an accessible position beneath the piano frame for inspection and repair, and means for holding the pivoted frame in normal position within the piano body;

5. In an automatic player piano, a motor normally mounted in the frame of said piano and capable of movement to another and more accessible position while being supported by said "frame, a pneumatic exhaust pump also normally mounted within said frame and driven by said motor, said pump'capable of being moved to another position for inspection and repair, and a power-transmitting means connecting said motor and said pump.

6. In an automatic player piano, a power unit therefor comprising a motor pivotally mounted in the frame of said piano and capable of being oscillated to a position sub stantially outside of said frame, a pump also pivotally mounted in said frame and capable of being swung substantially free thereof, a belt for. transmitting power from said motor to said pump, and a resilient means for moving said motor to maintain said belt taut.

normally mounted within said frame and capable of being moved to a position sub stantially free of said frame althrough supported thereby, and vibration-absorbing material within said supports and between the pump and thepiano frame for preventing the transmission of vibrations of said pump to said piano frame.

8. In an automatic player piano, a power unit therefot comprising a motor slidably mounted on a yoke pivoted in felt washers to a central brace of the piano frame, an arm attached to the ends of said yoke and having felt washers surrounding the ends of said yoke, said arm adapted to be attached to the ra'st of said piano, a leaf spring mounted on said central brace and having a felt pad on one end thereof for contacting with said motor, .the other end of said spring being adjustable to vary the efiective strength of said spring to move said motor on said yoke, a pump pivotally mounted on said central brace and said rast and provided with felt washers for absorbing vibrations of said pump, and a belt for transmitting power from said motor to said pum In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 12th day of November, 1920.

EDWIN S. WER-OLIN. 

